Six-String Samurai (1998)

This is the kind of movie that I've heard about from a few people who'd say "It's ok... pretty weird, though... Oh wait, you'd really like it actually." And they were totally correct! Jeff Falcon stars in (and co-writes) Six-String Samurai as Buddy, a mysterious traveler who's equally adept with his guitar as he is with his blade. The United States is a dusty wasteland after Russia dropped a nuclear bomb on it, and the city of Lost Vegas- his destination- is the last bastion of American society holding out against the Red tide.

When its king, Elvis Presley, dies, there is a rush of musicians journeying to the city to compete for the top spot. Death himself is vying for the job, and endeavors to kill all of his competitors before they reach their destination. Buddy proves particularly difficult to squash, but his growing attachment to a mute orphan boy (Justin McGuire) who's hitched himself to the rocker may prove his weakness.

So I looked up Jeff Falcon immediately after watching this, since he's kinda cute and was maybe dubbed for his lines (couldn't find confirmation on that- might have just been a weird sync), and did his own stunts. He's still largely a mystery; this is the only film he and director Mungia did together, and he only had bit parts in Chinese martial arts movies beforehand, but is American in origin. He is pretty awesome in this movie, though, getting in a lot of great fight scenes and maintaining a cool, slightly ridiculous persona. The little kid has the most annoying bird-like whine, but otherwise carries on the tradition of orphaned children in dystopias who don't speak. It really is a thing.

The imagination behind this film is the most striking thing about it. There's a wealth of sprawling, barren landscapes and completely crazy characters. I loved the cannibalistic family who talked like they were in a 50's sitcom, and the wind farm people leave behind a memorable image. Death reminded me of a faceless Slash, in a good way. The surf-rock/rockabilly music is catchy and upbeat, performed by the Red Elvises (who also cameo as the band in the beginning). Really, there is a lot to like here, and certainly so much inventiveness and strangeness to appreciate.

This movie is the epitome of "high-concept". Of course, most of the actual concept isn't really explained or elaborated or... conceptualized. Viewers are thrown into this film without much footing, and it sticks to a sprightly pace that never leaves much time for exposition. Generally I'm ok with ambiguity and inscrutability in this sort of sci-fi film, as long as it's still a fun watch. For the most part Six-String Samurai is action-packed, funny, and novel, but it does fall short in the script department. It's hard to explain, but this movie just needed more. More development, more insight, more something. I enjoyed it, but I wanted to really love it.

4/5

Pair This Movie With: My go-to pick for a wacky, over-complicated sci-fi film is always The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension. So, that.

Further Reading:
366 Weird Movies review
Nerdvampire review